A Conversation with a Veteran and a Friend (Cameron Smith)

Our calendar affords several official occasions to remember those who have sacrificed so much for our freedoms. We know that paying the price of liberty warrants much more than parades and words of affirmation, but frequently we miss the heroes right in front of us.

Many veterans, especially those just now leaving their military careers, are our peers in the workplace, our neighbors and friends. The selfless nature of their military service frequently carries over into their civilian lives. Many of us may be unaware of the military service of those around us because so many are reluctant to boast.

During my time at the University of Alabama School of Law, I had the honor of befriending David Lasseter. David was a few years ahead of me in school, but we ended up living next door to each other and becoming fast friends.

I came to learn that David attended Officer Candidate School prior to attending law school, and he intended on serving in the Marine Corps Judge Advocate Division upon graduation. After much consideration, David chose to serve his nation by deploying with an infantry battalion instead of pursuing a military legal career.

Ultimately, David served through two deployments to Iraq. During his first deployment, David was with 3rd Battalion 6th Marines in Al Anbar province during the “surge” in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Specifically, David engaged in combat logistics patrols through the often-violent Sunni Triangle to ensure that service members were correctly supplied for their missions. In his second deployment, Captain Lasseter served as the battalion logistics officer in western Al Anbar province near the Syrian border where he was responsible for mission logistics planning including weapons, transportation, personnel and even base allocations.

I had the opportunity to speak with David and ask him several questions about his service. His answers should be instructive to those of us looking to better support our military:

How did you deal with being away from friends and family? What helped you the most?

Emails and the occasional phone call were most helpful. I also appreciated mail and care packages. Recordings of sporting events and other television shows were nice because they helped me keep up with what was happening back home. Social media is also an easy, useful way to keep in touch.

What is the biggest challenge to America’s Armed Forces today?

One of the most important priorities is ensuring that weapon systems are cutting edge to serve the actual warfighter. We need to focus on the equipment our combat and support service members find essential to our military missions and make sure that it is the best in the world.

What was the highlight of your service?

I really enjoyed watching the local people in our areas grow more accepting of us, slowly recognize that we were there to help, and watching as the number of attacks on our unit dropped significantly over the course of our deployment. We were able to build relationships in spite of cultural differences because they knew we were helping them.

What was the most difficult aspect of your service?

Being away for extended periods of time was difficult. Time passes in America, but service members are frozen in another time and place trying to play catch-up. I was also surprised at how challenging it was to watch young Marines experience time away from family and loved ones for the first time. For many of them it was high school, boot camp, and then off to fight. That is a tough reality, but those I encountered handled it well.

What would you tell parents whose children are considering serving in the military?

I would encourage anyone who can meet the standards for the respective branches of service to consider the military. The learning experiences and life skills developed through service are invaluable. Not only are service members afforded exposure to different international cultures but also different cultures within their units. I benefitted from learning to work with those assigned to my unit to accomplish the mission at hand.

What do you view as the appropriate response by the average citizen to our veterans' service?

Genuine appreciation and a sincere ‘thank you’ is plenty sufficient. If you have the opportunity to help a veteran find a job or simply acclimate to civilian life, it is more than welcome. At the same time, it is important to remember that the vast majority of us serve because we want to do so. We believe in service to our country. Serving in the military is not a disability or a burden; it is a privilege and an honor.

My conversation with Captain David Lasseter was a good reminder of the quality of the men and women in our Armed Forces. I am glad to count him as a friend, and happy to say “Thank You.”

Cameron Smith is vice president and general counsel for the Alabama Policy Institute an independent, non-profit research and education organization dedicated to the preservation of free markets, limited government and strong families. He may be reached at camerons@alabamapolicy.org or on Twitter @DCameronSmith.

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